Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Distinguished Flying Cross

    Service:

    United States Marine Corps

    Rank:

    Captain

    Batallion:

    Marine Scout Bombing Squadron

    Action Date:

    June 20 – August 4, 1944

    Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 02981 (November 19, 1944)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Captain Elmer F. Brooks, Jr. (MCSN: 0-11435), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as flight leader and pilot attached to a Marine Scout Bombing Squadron operating against enemy gun positions, supply and personnel areas, and other important enemy installations on New Britain and New Ireland Islands. During his third tour of combat duty Captain Brooks participated in twenty-one damaging dive bombing and strafing attacks, in eleven of which he had the responsibility of leading the planes in the flight. On all occasions he acted as division leader. His previous experience and high qualities of leadership resulted in highly successful attacks, despite dangerous anti-aircraft fire and hazardous weather conditions. Captain Brooks is an outstandingly courageous and aggressive dive bombing pilot. On 12 June 1944 he led an SED-TBF attack against enemy gun positions near Rapope Airfield, New Britain Island, and in spite of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire and low broken clouds over the target area, his able leadership placed the attacking planes in such a position that all bombs were effectively bunched, silencing the enemy guns. Captain Brooks himself obtained at least a damaging hit on an enemy heavy gun position. On 20 June 1944, he led a strike against a concentration of gun positions in the vicinity of Rapope Airfield and because of the excellent coordination resulting from the leadership of Captain Brooks, all planes released their bombs simultaneously, thereby avoiding anti-aircraft fire from the assigned positions. A direct bomb hit was obtained by Captain Brooks on his target, an automatic gun. On 4 August 1944, against gun positions near Malaguna, New Britain, it was impossible to locate his assigned target, and by skillful dive bombing he destroyed a nearby fuel dump with direct bomb hits. He took part in numerous other strikes and his outstanding leadership, courage and aggressive dive bombing contributed materially to the neutralization of enemy activity in this area. His conduct throughout has distinguished him among those performing duties of the same character.